Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) Executive Director Bonnie Tembo has officially announced his retirement from the civil society organization.
Mr. Tembo who has been at the helm of AVAP for 16 years, stated that this was the right time for him to leave civil society advocacy work.
He called upon civil society organizations to reposition themselves and create space for impact-making advocacy in this new political dispensation that saw the defeat of the MMD regime during the
September 20 tripartite elections,.
Mr. Tembo said regime change was inevitable as the electorate responded well to the benchmarks of democracy.
“At the helm of AVAP, three Republican Presidents, that is the late Dr Frederick Chiluba, Dr Levy Mwanawasa and Mr. Rupiah Banda interacted with AVAP with a view to promoting good governance. In a democracy, people always yearn for change and hence overstaying is not good enough”, he stated.
He noted that civil society organizations always point fingers at politicians and often accuse them of overstaying in power and being recycled.
Mr. Tembo said the move taken by former Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Executive Director Lee Habasonda and himself will inspire a new wave of civil society leadership to take SACCORD and AVAP respectively to the next level.
He has since encouraged leaders of CSOs to be strategic, focused and fearless as they champion the cause of governance. Mr. Tembo further urged them not to be compromised and swallowed by
the new political dispensation.
He appealed to them to uphold neutrality if they were to maintain the confidence of the people. He thanked the media for reflecting AVAP to all corners of Zambia.
ZANIS
good luck
When did Lee resign or retire from SACORD. He is a nice Tonga guy. He is selfless and innovative. Lee is a true Zambian who had a vision. How I wish he could come back maybe as MMD president. I am sure he can do better than HH. I end here!
Agree with you!!!
Bonnie, you really are a true champion of democracy. I felt bad when i heard of your retirement. Good luck.
Good luck Bonnie
Retire in peace.your name will go down in the annals of history as one person who championed democracy in zambia.ALL THE BEST!!!!
Better days awaits ahead of you Bonnie. You had up and down along your race and let others run their’s.
BaGuy sponsorship yapwa!!!!!
#2 u are really ignorant…who told you that a Mr. Tembo hails from southern province?? Read and read and read more about Zambia so you can better understand how many tribes there are in our country and names to which those tribes relate. Stupid idiot…u r a time waster and get off this blog! some of you people have just started to getting used to blog and using computers, hence you think that the world is yours and can say anything you want. I say go back and learn more about Zambia and its tribes and where they are located.
No. 8 Inzaghi do not express your anger and ignorance as well. Read what No. 2 wrote. He was talking about Lee Habasonda and not Tembo to have come from Southern province. One wonders why you could blast off like that on a straight forward line by a blogger. My only guess is that is because HH has been mentioned but again thats no reason for your silly and ugly tribal outbursts. Uchinje no need for tribal inclinations like you seem to suggest.
Twalya again!!!!
Follow your bululu RB Ku chipata, mbeba iwe
HE SHOULD NOT BLIND US,IT`S PAY BACK TIME UYU CHIKALA IS DESTINED FOR A JOB KU PF,HE DELIVERED THE VOTE KAILI.SAME APPLIES TO LEE HABA NGOMBE,BONSE ABA BAFITOLE MA JOB. YOU THINK THEY CAN SURVIVE OUTSIDE THEIR TUNTEMBAS?
What has someone’s tribe got to do with the news report?
Someone is abandoning years of global enlightenment for the love of hate and tribal violence. One wonders whether these electronic media tribalists are true Zambians. Quit tribalism!
all the best bonnie
I dont know the details but this seems to curiously coincide with the MMD departure.
My theory, again i may be wrong, is that these 2 organisations are sponsored by the Shushushu, so these 2 guys have just been ‘recalled’ by Sata.
Wonderful…..Season for everything Mr Tembo, u did your part with courage!!
Great men from the East Resign and accept election defeat with honour. Others hide in holes with magic lap tops and rat cords. Or call for a third term.
These are some of the wisest parting words one shall ever here on this planet; thanks Mr. Bonnie Banda. Mr. Lee habasonda hats off to you for being gracious.
Thank you for providing checks and balances. Of course you made some mistakes but your achievements surely surpass them! God bless in your new endeavours. Be careful, DON’T SPOIL YOUR GOOD NAME!
* hear *
GOOD LUCK BA TEMBO YOU ARE A GOOD FRIEND SINCE 1997
Dont Blind us guys! Sponsorship yipwilefye & i hope we wont hear of your appointments somewhere!!!!
Bonnie and Lee have been given Diplomatic postings
Which emabssies are both of you going to?
I meant ‘Which EMBASSIES are both Lee and Bonnie going to’? i know they have been appointed. Chomba Chella for Interparty Dialogue appointed to Electoral Commission of Zambia as Deputy Director.
These guys were assisting pf to come into power, so they a bin given ma postings. but it wont b long coz will make sure pf doesnt remain in power for long.
Bonnie, wish you well in your future endeavors. God bless cousin.
Bonnie worked hard and delivered Northern Province to PF. He made sure that a good number of people voted. So which embassy are you going to Bonnie? Sata will make sure the CSOs are dead through his appointment.
They are PF cadres, period! What neutrality is Bonnie talking about?